SOWT grouping question

[Tonomachi]

I picked up the below grouping of USAF Special Operations Weather Team insignia which is now obsolete as I understand their mission has changed with a name change to Special Reconnaissance.  My question has to do with the upper gray beret with the US Army Joint Special Operations Command flash.  I'm assuming a USAF SOWT airman was attached to JSOC and required to wear their flash.  My question is am I correct in this assumption and what beret badge would have been worn on the JSOC flash?  Thanks in advance for your help.

 

 

 

 

[AHR]

HELLO ALL

 

THE GRAY BERET WAS WORN BY THE AIR WEATHES SERVICE,

I GOT MY BERET FROM  COL.  WAYNE DOWNING  WHEN HE WAS TDY AT MC dILL AFB. DURING AIRFEST.

THE BERET BADGE WORN WAS THE 2ND SIZE SOCOM BADGE

( SEE PIC, THE LARGER BADGE IS THE BERET BADGE )

 

HOPE THIS HELPS   AHR

 

[Tonomachi]

14 minutes ago, AHR said:

HELLO ALL

 

THE GRAY BERET WAS WORN BY THE AIR WEATHES SERVICE,

I GOT MY BERET FROM  COL.  WAYNE DOWNING  WHEN HE WAS TDY AT MC dILL AFB. DURING AIRFEST.

THE BERET BADGE WORN WAS THE 2ND SIZE SOCOM BADGE

( SEE PIC, THE LARGER BADGE IS THE BERET BADGE )

 

HOPE THIS HELPS   AHR

 

Many thanks for this information as I had placed the wrong beret badge (Sta-Brite SOWT) onto this flash.

[468abnarm]

On 5/16/2021 at 7:35 PM, Tonomachi said:

I picked up the below grouping of USAF Special Operations Weather Team insignia which is now obsolete as I understand their mission has changed with a name change to Special Reconnaissance.  My question has to do with the upper gray beret with the US Army Joint Special Operations Command flash.  I'm assuming a USAF SOWT airman was attached to JSOC and required to wear their flash.  My question is am I correct in this assumption and what beret badge would have been worn on the JSOC flash?  Thanks in advance for your help.

 

 

 

 

Tonomachi, all kinds of combinations of Flash and Device have been worn by the Weather Teams. Find attached what I have had to this point. Now, based on your post and the additional information provided by AHR I will have to revise the layout. Thanks for posting. 

[Tonomachi]

Well here is another short lived Combat Weather Team or SOWT beret badge that not many people are aware of (see photo).   Members of the SOWT were trying to get the USAF to authorize an all silver metal beret badge like those worn by the Combat Control Teams and the Pararescue Teams.   They did not want an enameled beret badge that many other USAF units like the Air Police Squadrons were wearing on their berets.   They apparently got authorization to wear the all oxidized silver SOWT metal beret badge but shortly thereafter for unknown reason they were told by the USAF that they would have to wear the enameled version.   I don't know the whole story on what happened but maybe someone else does.   I obtained this beret badge in I think it was the 1980s when a member of the SOWT was trying to gather funds to have a batch of all silver beret badges produced for submission and approached the Chute & Dagger Association.  Members would forward payment to a specific SOWT NCO who would have these beret badges made up and in turn would send each participating member one badge.  There were a number of lengthy delays so the SWOT NCO was nice enough to sent an additional enamel SWOT beret badge and had the pair engraved on the back with matching numbers.  

[Tonomachi]

51 minutes ago, 468abnarm said:

Tonomachi, all kinds of combinations of Flash and Device have been worn by the Weather Teams. Find attached what I have had to this point. Now, based on your post and the additional information provided by AHR I will have to revise the layout. Thanks for posting. 

Regarding your get looking chart I believe the SOWT beret badge you have listed as Type I should be Type II as the colored enameled beret badge came before the black and silver beret badge pictured below.

 

 

[AHR]

WOW 2 REAL NICE OLDER WEATHER BADGES, WOULD BE NICE TO FIND A PAIR.

 

ALSO I HAVE TO MAKE A MAJOR NAME CORRECTION ABOUT THE OWNER OF MY GRAY BERET.

 

THE CORRECT OWNER WAS ( COL. WAYNE GOULDING)  AND NOT COL. WAYNE DOWNING.

COL. GOULDING WAS TDY OUT OF HURLBERT IN FL. TO McDill AFB.

 

THANKS  AHR

 

 

 

[468abnarm]

21 hours ago, Tonomachi said:

Well here is another short lived Combat Weather Team or SOWT beret badge that not many people are aware of (see photo).   Members of the SOWT were trying to get the USAF to authorize an all silver metal beret badge like those worn by the Combat Control Teams and the Pararescue Teams.   They did not want an enameled beret badge that many other USAF units like the Air Police Squadrons were wearing on their berets.   They apparently got authorization to wear the all oxidized silver SOWT metal beret badge but shortly thereafter for unknown reason they were told by the USAF that they would have to wear the enameled version.   I don't know the whole story on what happened but maybe someone else does.   I obtained this beret badge in I think it was the 1980s when a member of the SOWT was trying to gather funds to have a batch of all silver beret badges produced for submission and approached the Chute & Dagger Association.  Members would forward payment to a specific SOWT NCO who would have these beret badges made up and in turn would send each participating member one badge.  There were a number of lengthy delays so the SWOT NCO was nice enough to sent an additional enamel SWOT beret badge and had the pair engraved on the back with matching numbers.  

So could the one on the left actual be considered Type I the the enameled one Type 2 and the the "standard" one being Type 3?

I will put together a revised graphic and send. Good eye on the badge placement error of my existing display. That one was all my fault for being in a hurry when putting it together. Thanks again for the info.

[Tonomachi]

2 hours ago, 468abnarm said:

So could the one on the left actual be considered Type I the the enameled one Type 2 and the the "standard" one being Type 3?

I will put together a revised graphic and send. Good eye on the badge placement error of my existing display. That one was all my fault for being in a hurry when putting it together. Thanks again for the info.

The SOWT apparently wore a medium blue beret before changing over to the gray beret.  What I don't know is if they wore a basic paratrooper wing on their blue berets just like the Combat Control Teams did before they switched over to their scarlet berets with their new all silver beret badges.  If you don't count the basic paratrooper wing on a blue beret the silver oxidized beret badge was their first beret badge which apparently was authorized for wear for only a short period of time.  It is my understanding that there were a number of different USAF squadrons wearing berets with enameled beret badges.  The SOWT wanted to stand out like Pararescue and CCT who were the only USAF groups at that time (early 1980s) wearing all silver beret badges.  However something happened and the SOWT were forced by the USAF to replace their preferred silver oxidized beret badges with the enameled version.  I had a letter of authenticity that came with these badges from the mentioned SOWT NCO who had these badges produced for their team but I seemed to have misplaced it over the years.   It looks like they (SOWT) continued their efforts to get an all silver beret badge after the USAF went to all Sta-Brite insignia with their third beret badge design being constructed of silver metal with a mirror like finish and black enameling.   This third design was worn on two different flashes as well as by itself without a flash (see photos).  It looks like they also had this third design embroidered directly onto one of their beret flashes.  They finally succeeded in getting their all silver metal beret badge with their fourth design (see photo) which they still wear except the wording in the scrolls was changed from SPECIAL OPERATIONS WEATHER to SPECIAL U.S.A.F. RECON which would make it their fifth beret badge (see photo).  I just found a short write up in one of the older Chute & Dagger Newsletters identifying the mentioned SOWT NCO and proof that the silver oxidized beret badge was their first design.  I would consider their first silver oxidized beret badge as being very scarce as I have yet to come across another one for sale since.  

 

It would appear that a number of USAF groups pushed for and received their own all silver metal beret badges like the TACP, SERE Specialist/Instructors and I've come across an all silver ARRS beret badge that I know nothing about (see photos).  

 

Lastly there is a silver metal beret badge for officers (see photo) that I'm not that familiar with.  It suggests based on the design that instead of each group having their own officers there is now a USAF Special Tactics officer that oversee Pararescue, CCT, Special Reconnaissance and one other group that represents the eagle maybe TACP.

 

 

[468abnarm]

On 7/29/2021 at 12:31 PM, AHR said:

HELLO ALL

 

THE GRAY BERET WAS WORN BY THE AIR WEATHES SERVICE,

I GOT MY BERET FROM  COL.  WAYNE DOWNING  WHEN HE WAS TDY AT MC dILL AFB. DURING AIRFEST.

THE BERET BADGE WORN WAS THE 2ND SIZE SOCOM BADGE

( SEE PIC, THE LARGER BADGE IS THE BERET BADGE )

 

HOPE THIS HELPS   AHR

 

AHR, Thanks for the information. I will defiantly do some more research on this..

[skir]

Just for an add, J. Ried wearing the early pewter badge(second style) on Black/Blue w Yellow boarder flash in Panama. A long time ago, maybe 80s 90s?

[Tonomachi]

Picked up a Special USAF Recon beret yesterday at the Fairplex Show in Pomona, California.

 

 

[Guest Heatherway96]

Hello Tonomachi! Here is a graphic I summarized and made about the evolution of the weather parachutists beret from 1979 to present. Welcome to discuss or correct.

[Guest Heatherway96]

11 minutes ago, Heatherway96 said:

Hello Tonomachi! Here is a graphic I summarized and made about the evolution of the weather parachutists beret from 1979 to present. Welcome to discuss or correct.

 

[Tonomachi]

Great information and graphics for a unit that not many people know about as I know this took a lot of work on your part.  I know there isn't a lot of space so acronyms are necessary but I'm pretty sure some will be difficult to decipher for a civilian.

 

I've watched some videos online that their new reconnaissance mission may include members of the unit going into an aera in civilian clothing ahead of time for the needed information which is completely different from their now secondary mission of weather forecasting.

 

 

[Guest Heatherway96]

On 3/29/2023 at 3:56 AM, Tonomachi said:

Great information and graphics for a unit that not many people know about as I know this took a lot of work on your part.  I know there isn't a lot of space so acronyms are necessary but I'm pretty sure some will be difficult to decipher for a civilian.

 

I've watched some videos online that their new reconnaissance mission may include members of the unit going into an aera in civilian clothing ahead of time for the needed information which is completely different from their now secondary mission of weather forecasting.

 

 

Yes, the core of today's SR operators is multi-domain reconnaissance and surveillance, with weather analysis relegated to the back burner.

 

It was an oversight on my part that the abbreviations that appear in the graphic are not expanded. Thank you so much for pointing it out.

 

ACC: Air Combat Command
ANG: Air National Guard
AWS: Air Weather Service
CWS: Combat Weather Squadron
CWT(A): Combat Weather Team (Airborne)
Det: Detachment
DUI: Distinctive Unit Insignia
PACAF: Pacific Air Forces
RGR RGT: Ranger Regiment
SFG(A): Special Forces Group (Airborne)
SOAR: Special Operations Aviation Regiment
STS: Special Tactics Squadron
USAFE: U.S. Air Forces in Europe
USASOC: U.S. Army Special Operations Command
WS: Weather Squadron

[Haze99]

Cancel

[atb]

Seeing this thread jogged my memory. I picked this up somewhere. Worn off duty? When? As I downsize, it may have to go.

 

[Haze99]

April 16, 2025

Crestview, Florida

Staff Sgt. Justin Day (not shown) a medically-retired 24th SOW Combat Controller and Purple Heart recipient, received the home from Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit organization committed to rebuilding lives and supporting injured veterans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Savannah Stephens)

Special Reconnaissance Airman wearing grey beret and CCT Airmen wearing red or scarlet.n

[Haze99]

U.S. Air Force Combat Weather leaders stand behind a squadron sign during Thunder Challenge 2024 at Fort Riley, Kansas, Oct. 9, 2024. Thunder Challenge is an annual best team competition that tests Combat Weather Airmen's physical fitness, combat readiness and core weather competencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Felicia Przydzial)

NOTE: wear of grey beret (not to be confused with Special Reconnaissance) 

 

Current Combat Weather Team Badge worn on beret.

[Tonomachi]

On 9/6/2025 at 9:05 AM, Haze99 said:

U.S. Air Force Combat Weather leaders stand behind a squadron sign during Thunder Challenge 2024 at Fort Riley, Kansas, Oct. 9, 2024. Thunder Challenge is an annual best team competition that tests Combat Weather Airmen's physical fitness, combat readiness and core weather competencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Felicia Przydzial)

NOTE: wear of grey beret (not to be confused with Special Reconnaissance) 

 

Current Combat Weather Team Badge worn on beret.

So have we gotten this all wrong?  The above SOWT silver with black enamel beret badge also pictured below (Photo 1) was thought to be their "third" design now obsolete but according to this group photograph was still being worn as of October 9, 2024?  So what became of their "fourth" all silver beret badge design change pictured below (Photo2)?  Afterwards it was thought that SOWT was given a name and primary mission change to Special Reconnaissance with a new and current all silver beret badge their "fifth" design change pictured below (Photo 3).  They retained their weather forecasting mission but this was now secondary to their new reconnaissance mission.  It was thought that their fifth beret badge superseded all other SOWT beret badges but this does not appear to be the case.  Does USAF Special Reconnaissance have different classifications within their unit where you start off with weather forecasting for a number of years before receiving additional training and qualifying for special reconnaissance?  Has the USAF brought back SOWT as a separated unit with weather forecasting as their primary mission and Special Reconnaissance no longer burden with this as their secondary mission?

 

 

[Haze99]

I hear ya Tonomachi. Confusion reins! Allow me to clarify the terminology.

 

1. Combat Weather Teams are regular USAF weather Airmen, enlisted AFSC 1W0X1 & Officer AFSC 15WX is a SWO. Staff Weather Officer. Who complete additional tactical training, After initial forecasting & meteorology qualification. So as to support U.S. Army frontline units. (Those are in the Fort Riley photo above.)

1A. Without delving into four decades+ of history. To be brief, prior to 2008. The CWT's as it was known then, supported both conventional and SOF units. However having no dedicated career track and an informal, ad hoc assignment process. Manning issues arose, with lack of interest by traditional weather Airmen to serve in this capacity. Thus in 2008 SOWT was born, AFSC 1W0X2. A dedicated careerfield with its own initial training qualifications and mission support focus of SOF.

2. The confusion came in (as seen in the life of this thread) in that the USAF kept the CWT term for weather Airmen in conventional U.S Army unit support. While SOWT become a separate speciality, with assignments to the Special Tactics Squadrons of AFSOC & liaison for USARSOC. (17th STS) so the term CWT & SOWT existed at the same time. At the core, both meteorology/forecasting, but with different skill sets. (I.e Freefall & Combat Diver qualification for SOWT Airmen) as an example. 

3. With advance in technology, a decade of feedback from the SOWT airmen, and a National Defense Strategy change. In CY 2019, SOWT, AFSC 1W0X2 converted to 1Z4X1, Special Reconnaissance. Still a separate specialty and additional skill qualifications from 1W0X1. *1W0X2 phased out of administrative and personnel assigning use. Along with the title SOWT. 

 

I am not knowledgeable on the beret badge variations. To explain their design change or style. 

 

As of today

Badge 1 still authorized for traditional weather Airmen of CWT assigned to U.S. Army posts. 

Badge 2 was, I think, this was SOWT Badge worn between 2008-2019 in AFSC 1W0X2. 

Badge 3 is the currently issued Special Reconnaissance (1Z4X1) beret badge. 

H'99

[Tonomachi]

23 minutes ago, Haze99 said:

I hear ya Tonomachi. Confusion reins! Allow me to clarify the terminology.

 

1. Combat Weather Teams are regular USAF weather Airmen, enlisted AFSC 1W0X1 & Officer AFSC 15WX is a SWO. Staff Weather Officer. Who complete additional tactical training, After initial forecasting & meteorology qualification. So as to support U.S. Army frontline units. (Those are in the Fort Riley photo above.)

1A. Without delving into four decades+ of history. To be brief, prior to 2008. The CWT's as it was known then, supported both conventional and SOF units. However having no dedicated career track and an informal, ad hoc assignment process. Manning issues arose, with lack of interest by traditional weather Airmen to serve in this capacity. Thus in 2008 SOWT was born, AFSC 1W0X2. A dedicated careerfield with its own initial training qualifications and mission support focus of SOF.

2. The confusion came in (as seen in the life of this thread) in that the USAF kept the CWT term for weather Airmen in conventional U.S Army unit support. While SOWT become a separate speciality, with assignments to the Special Tactics Squadrons of AFSOC & liaison for USARSOC. (17th STS) so the term CWT & SOWT existed at the same time. At the core, both meteorology/forecasting, but with different skill sets. (I.e Freefall & Combat Diver qualification for SOWT Airmen) as an example. 

3. With advance in technology, a decade of feedback from the SOWT airmen, and a National Defense Strategy change. In CY 2019, SOWT, AFSC 1W0X2 converted to 1Z4X1, Special Reconnaissance. Still a separate specialty and additional skill qualifications from 1W0X1. *1W0X2 phased out of administrative and personnel assigning use. Along with the title SOWT. 

 

I am not knowledgeable on the beret badge variations. To explain their design change or style. 

 

As of today

Badge 1 still authorized for traditional weather Airmen of CWT assigned to U.S. Army posts. 

Badge 2 was, I think, this was SOWT Badge worn between 2008-2019 in AFSC 1W0X2. 

Badge 3 is the currently issued Special Reconnaissance (1Z4X1) beret badge. 

H'99

Many thanks for taking the time to explain this.

[phillock]

Hi Team

 

I have several "Combat Weather Team" patches and would like to know more.

 

These are GWOT era.

 

All are velcro backed TWAT and TACP are afghan made and 10 SOWT Iraq(Kuwait?).

 

If you can add any more detail on histoy or identification would appreciated.

 

cheers

 

Phill

[Haze99]

On 9/19/2025 at 3:53 PM, Haze99 said:

I hear ya Tonomachi. Confusion reins! Allow me to clarify the terminology.

 

1. Combat Weather Teams are regular USAF weather Airmen, enlisted AFSC 1W0X1 & Officer AFSC 15WX is a SWO. Staff Weather Officer. Who complete additional tactical training, After initial forecasting & meteorology qualification. So as to support U.S. Army frontline units. (Those are in the Fort Riley photo above.)

1A. Without delving into four decades+ of history. To be brief, prior to 2008. The CWT's as it was known then, supported both conventional and SOF units. However having no dedicated career track and an informal, ad hoc assignment process. Manning issues arose, with lack of interest by traditional weather Airmen to serve in this capacity. Thus in 2008 SOWT was born, AFSC 1W0X2. A dedicated career field with its own initial training qualifications and mission support focus of SOF.

2. The confusion came in (as seen in the life of this thread) in that the USAF kept the CWT term for weather Airmen in conventional U.S Army unit support. While SOWT become a separate specialty, with assignments to the Special Tactics Squadrons of AFSOC & liaison for USARSOC. (17th STS) so the term CWT & SOWT existed at the same time. At the core, both meteorology/forecasting, but with different skill sets. (I.e.. Freefall & Combat Diver qualification for SOWT Airmen) as an example. 

3. With advance in technology, a decade of feedback from the SOWT airmen, and a National Defense Strategy change. In CY 2019, SOWT, AFSC 1W0X2 converted to 1Z4X1, Special Reconnaissance. Still a separate specialty and additional skill qualifications from 1W0X1. *1W0X2 phased out of administrative and personnel assigning use. Along with the title SOWT. 

 

I am not knowledgeable on the beret badge variations. To explain their design change or style. 

 

As of today

Badge 1 still authorized for traditional weather Airmen of CWT assigned to U.S. Army posts. 

Badge 2 was, I think, this was SOWT Badge worn between 2008-2019 in AFSC 1W0X2. 

Badge 3 is the currently issued Special Reconnaissance (1Z4X1) beret badge. 

H'99

You are welcome, happy to bring clarification to this subject. 

 

Does USAF Special Reconnaissance have different classifications within their unit where you start off with weather forecasting for a number of years before receiving additional training and qualifying for special reconnaissance? I forgot to address this question, specifically in my post. 

 

Yes & no, SR (AFSC 1Z411) Airmen enter a separate course of training after graduation from Basic Military Training, i.e.. Boot camp. And obtain their Apprentice Level (3) qualification (and grey beret) at the Combat Control School. The now 1Z431 Airman arriving to their unit, a Special Tactics Squadron being fully trained. Upgrade training will begin from there, while assigned and performing duties. To my understanding, forecasting/meteorology are a subset of SR training, though I am not aware of what level of proficiency they are qualified in.  Nor how often this skill is utilized. 

 

(Underlined) And this was the issue for Combat Weather Teams prior to establishment of SOWT, AFSC 1W0X2 in 2008. That the AFSC 1W0X1 Weather Airmen had to have experience at a traditional USAF Weather Squadron or "Hub". Completing all required metrological & forecasting certifications, before they were eligible to apply for Combat Weather Team. Roughly a 2-4 year process. This hindered CWT manning, but was fixed with the SOWT specialty.